Winding apparatus



Sept. 3, 1963 E. P. LARsH 3,102,696

WINDING APPARATUS Filed sept. 23, 1960 F lG- 3 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 759 754 A 706 INVENTOR. 762 754 l EvERET'r E LARsH BY 20 24 Y /W 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 E. P. LARSH WINDING APPARATUS Sept. 3, 1963 Filed Sept. 25, 1960 772"\ FIG-9 0 0 2 8 5 7 2 6 0 4 2 l P 77: 5 0 7 .l 5 NR 7 E e Ww l "H VM lll 7 M wann. .u 2 T I 6 T m 1 i m E n o 8 w m w 2 w 2 2 2 8 4 6 3 9 m m w w m y m .l 8 7 4, 8 m H m 4 7 .l 2 n m M m 6 2J m u w 7 6l. f m 9 Jun/' 1 r IM III IH .0 0 5 M 9 fw.. 16 lll.. Milli, .nw .LMII .PHIN 7W 2 4 6 w 6 4 4 2 6 6 4 mg/Owwww 96 2 m U H :.lJ .l mm mw 2 G I 9 l 6 F n m v 2 /WW AORNEY Sept. 3, 1963 E. P. LARsH WINDING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 25, 1960 INVENTOR. EVERETT P. LARSH ATTORN EY iUnited States Patent Otiice 31,102,696 Patented Sept. 3, 1963 3,102,696 WINDEQG APPARATUS Everett P. Larsh, Montgomery County, Ohio (124 E. Monument Ave., Dayton 2, Ohio) Filed Sept. 23, 1960, Ser. No. 57,997 Claims. (Cl. 242 1.1)

This invention relates to winding apparatus. The invention relates more particularly to winding apparatus for the winding of elements of an electrical machine. The invention relates more particularly to apparatus for winding stators and rotors of electrical machines. The invention relates still more particularly to the winding 'and forming of coils in stators and rotors. However, the invention is not so limited in that it may be employed for various types of winding operations.

This application relates to my copending applications Serial Number 702,110'8, tiled December 11, 1957, now Patent Number 2,969,928, and Serial Number 19,692, tiled April 4, 1960. This application also relates to copending application Serial No. 712,786, now Patent No. 2,954,177, in which the applicant herein is a co-inventor and in which all rights are assigned -to the applicant herein.

Electrical elements such as stators and rotors are conventionally wound by the placing of preformed coils in slots of the electrical elements.

A preferable method of winding a stator or a rotor is that in which wires Vare placed into the slots of the rotor or stator in a manner to form coils in the stator or rotor. In order for such a Winding operation to be carried out, it is desirable to use a winding apparatus. The winding apparatus must have a winding element which is capable of laying successive portions of a wire into a slot and then extending the wire from the end of the slot laterally to another slot and then into said other slot so that a coil or coils are formed in the electrical element. In order lfor the Winding element to carry the successive portions of the wire members into and out of the slots of the stator lor rotor, reciprocal axial and rotary movement must Ibe provided between the winding element and the element being Wound. =It is extremely important that the reciprocal axial and rotary movements be very accu rately associated and interrelated. This is due to the fact that the rotary and reciprocal movements must occur at the proper relative positions of the winding element and electrical element to accurately place the coils in the proper slots and to form the end turns between the slots.

An object of this invention is to provide means by which an electrical element canI be wound accurately and eiciently by placing wires into the coil slots thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide winding apparatus in which the relative relationships between rotary and reciprocal movements of a winding element are extremely yaccurately controlled.

Another object of this invention is to provide such winding apparatus in which the relative reciprocal axial and rotary movements of the winding element can be easily and readily adjusted.

Another object of this invention is to provide automatically operable winding apparatus.

Another object of this invention is to provide such winding apparatus which can be manufactured at relatively low costs, may be sturdily built, and is long lived.

Another object of this invention is to provide such winding apparatus which may be easily land readily adjusted `for the winding of stators and rotors of various diameters and various axial lengths.

Other objects and advantages reside in the construction of parts, the combination thereof, the method of manufacture, and the mode of operation, as vwill become more apparent from the following description.

In the drawings:

-FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of the winding appa` ratus of this invention, with parts broken away and shown in section.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary elevational view showing a portion of the apparatus of FIGURE 1 in .a position of operation.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional vieW taken substantially on line 3 3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 4 4 of FIGURE l.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 5 5 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged sectional View taken substantially on line 6 6 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 7 is a diagrammatic sectional view taken substantially :on line 7 7 of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE S is a diagrammatic type of view, on a reduced scale of elements shown in FIGURE 7, showing another position of operation thereof.

FIGURE 9 is `a View taken substantially on line 9 9 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE l0 is 'an enlarged sectional View showing the winding head of the winding apparatus of this invention and la Wound element in the process of removal therefrom.

FIGURE 111 is a diagrammatic view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 6 in a position of operation thereof.

FIGURE 12 is a diagrammatic type of view showing the apparatus of FIGURES 6 and 11 in another position of operation thereof.

FIGURE 13 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing a portion of the reciprocal rotary mechanism of the winding apparatus of this invention.

FIGURE 14 is an exploded perspective view showing portions of the winding appanatus of this invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail, winding apparatus of this invention may include any suitable support structure having a base 20 upon which are mounted a plurality of legs, such as leg members 22 and 24, shown' in FIGURES 1 and 14. Mounted upon the legs 22 Aand 24 is a floor structure 26. Rising substantially vertically upwardly from the floor structure 26 is a main wall member 28. Attached to the Wall member 28, substantially normal thereto, is a cylindrical housing 3G, best shown in FIGURE 14. The cylindrical housing 30 extends through the main Wall 2S 'and has a lback wall 32 which is substantially parallel to the main wall member 28, as shown in FIGURE 4. At the end of the cylindrical housing 30 opposite the Wall 32 is an opening 33 encompassed by a flange 34, as shown in FIGURE 4.

Attached to the back wall 32 of the cylindrical housing 30 by 'any suitable means, such as by bolt members 36 and spacer members 38, is a rotary motor 40 provided with a splined shaft 42, as shown in FIGURES 4 and 5. The splined shaft y42 extends through an opening in the back wall 32 and into the housing 30. The splined shaft 42 has attached thereto and carried thereby an eccentric cam member 44 and an eccentric cam member 46. Preferably, the cam members 44 and 46 are rigidly attached one to the other. The cam members 44 and `46 are out of phase, one with respect to the other, as best shown in FIGURE 14. A circular splined connector plate 48 is shown attached to the carns 46 and mounted on the splined shaft 42.

Adjacent the cam member 44 and pivotally carried by a pin Sil, which is mounted in the back wall 32, is a cam follower S2. The cam follower 52 is annular and encompasses the splined shaft 42. The cam follower 52 is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed rollers 54 which are in engagement with the surface of the cam 44. Thus, with each revolution iof the cam 44, the cam follower 52 oscillates or swings through one cycle.

Adjacent the cam member 46 and pivotally supported adjacent one end portion thereof by a pivot pin 58 is an annular cam follower 60. The cam follower 60 is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed rollers 62 which are in engagement with the peripheral surface of the cam member 46.

Rigidly attached to the cam follower 52 is an arm 64 which extends downwardly therefrom through an elongate opening 66 in the lower portion of theyeylindrical housing 30. A lower end portion 68 of the arm 64 is shown as being bifurcated and engages a pin 70 which is connected to a slide tube 72, as shown in FIGURES 6, 11 and 12. The tube 72 slides upon a slide rod 74 which is supported by wall members 76 which extend from the main wall 28 substantially normal thereto.

A yoke 78 has end portions 801 which also slidably encompass the slide rod 74. Encircling the slide rod 7 4 and disposed at opposite ends of the tube 72 are spring members 82 which arecompressed between the end portions 80 of the yoke 78 and the tube 72. As shown in FIG- URES 4 and 13, the yoke 78 has Ia connector portion 84 which, with the yoke 78, is slidably carried by upper and lower track surfaces in a wall member86. The arm 64 extends through a slot 88 in a plate 89 which is attached to the wall member 86.

Attached to the connector portion 84 is one or more abutment members 87. These abutment members 87 extend into an irregularly shaped recess 90l of a cam wheel 92, as shown in FIGURES 7 and 8. The cam wheel 92 is supported by al shaft 93 which is rotatably mounted upon a bracket 96, as best shown -in FIGURES 4, 6, and 14. The outer periphery of the earn wheel 92 is provided with teeth 94 which are in meshed relation with a pinion 97 carried by a rotary adjustment motor or stepping motor 100. The adjustment motor or stepping motor 100 is ordinarily rotated yonly a portion of `a revolution upon each actuation thereof. Rotary movement of the stepping motor 100 rotates the pinion 97, causing rotary movement of the cam wheel 92. The irregular internal recess 90 ofthe cam wheel 92 is best shown in FIG- URES 7 and 8 and has minimum spaced abutment portions 101, and maximum spaced abutment portions 102. The other abutment portions of the irregular recess 90` are intermediate the portions 101 and 102. The irregular internal recess 90 of the cam wheel 92 limits movement of Ithe abutment members 87 carried by the yoke 78.

The connector portion 84 is connected to a chain 103, as best shown in FIGURE 13. The chain 103- encompasses a sprocket wheel 104 having a hub 105 which is splined to a main operating shaft 106, as best shown in FIGURE 6. The main operating shaft 106 extends through a large arcuate notch 107 in the floor 26, `as best shown in FIGURE 14. The main operating shaft 106 is slidably axially movable with respect to the hub 105 and the sprocket wheel 104. The hub 105 is held against axial movement with the shaft 106 by spacedapar-t horizontal plate members 110 and 111, as shown in FIGURES l, 2, and 6. The plate member 110 is directly above the hub 105 and the plate member 111 is directly below the hub 105. Any suitable bearing means, not shown, is used between the hub 105 and the plate members 110 and 111. The plate member 111 is a portion of a bracket 112. The upper plate 110 and the lower plate 111 are separated by spacer sleeves 114 through which extend long post members` 115. Nut members 116 are attached to the post members 115 directly above and below the plates 110 and 111. The post members 115 also extend through an upper bracket 117 and are secured thereto by nuts 118.

The chain 103 is in meshed relation with the sprocket wheel 104 and is also -in meshed relation with an idler sprocket 119 having a hub V121 rotatably carried by a shaft 123;

Rotary reciprocal movement of the shaft 106 is carried out by oscillatory movement of the arm 64 which is attached to the cam follower 52. As described above, the cam follower 52 oscillates with rotation of the cam 44. The 4amount of rotary reciprocal movement of the main operating shaft 106 is governed by the rotary position of the cam member 92. The arm member 64, oseillating with the cam follower 52, always moves the same length of stroke with rotation of its driving cam member 44. However, due to the fact that the arm member 64 is connected to the yokev 78 by means of the spring members 82, the yoke 78 moves only the distance permitted by the internal surface of the rotary cam 92.

FIGURE 7 shows the minimum amount of stroke of the yoke 78 permitted. The abutment members 87 are horizontally moved with the movement of the yoke 78 between the portions 101 of the irregular recess 901 of the rotary cam 92. The abutment members 87 engage the abutment surface portions 101 so that the stroke of the yoke 78 is equal to the distance between the wall portions 101 and the spring members 82 absorb the remainder of the stroke of the arm 64 which is greater than any movement of the yoke 78. FIGURE 8 shows the adjusted position of the rotary cam 92-in which movement of the yoke 78 isl greatest and is equal to the distance between wall portions 102 of the recess 90.

The yoke 78 moves the chain 103 which rotatively moves the main operating shaft 106. Thus, it is understood that the amount of reciprocal rotative movement of the shaft 106 is governed by the adjusted position of the rotary cam 92. As stated above, the rotary position of the cam 92 is adjusted by the stepping motor 100. Thus, the stepping motor is operated only when it is desired to change the amount of rotary reciprocal movement of the main operating shaft 106. The amount of rotary reciprocal movement of the main operating shaft 106 is changed only when it is desired to change the width of the coils or the spacing between sides of coils wound by the apparatus.

The cam follower 60, as discussed above, follows rotary movementof the cam 46. The cam follower 60 has integrally attached thereto an arm 120, as shown in FIGURES l and 14. The arm l120 extends through an elongate slot in the side of the cylindrical housing 30. Pivotally attached to the arm 120 by means of a pin 122 is a link 124, as shown in FIGURE 1. Pivotally attached to the link 124 by means of a pin 126 is an arm 1130. The end of the arm 110y is provided with an elongate slot 132 within which slidably moves a pin 134.

As shown in FIGURE 9, the pin 134 is secured to a bracket 136 which is axially movable upon one of the post members `115. The bracket 136 is connected to a similar bracket 138 by means of cross links 140. 'I'he bracket 138 is axially movable upon another of the posts 115. The cross links 140 support a connector 1412` which retains the upper end portion of the main operating shaft 106. The connector 142 rotatably supports the main shaft y106 while preventing relative axial movement between the connector 142 and the main shaft 106. Thus, pivotal movement of the arm causes axial movement of the brackets 136 and 13:8 upon the post members 115, thus causing vertical movement of the main operating shaft 106.

As shown in FIGURE 1, intermediate the pin members 126 and 114 of the arm .130, a pin member i150 pivotally connects the arm 130 to a link 152. The link 152 extends through a slot 151 in a plate 153 and has a lower end portion 154 which is loosely encompassed by a collar 156. The collar 156 is attached to an axially movable shaft 159 which is provided with a rack 160 in meshed engagement with a pinion 162. The pinion 162 is connected to a rotatable shaft 164 of au adjustment motor or stepping motor 166. The stepping motor 1'66 is carried by a plate 167. Thus, it is understood that by rotary movement of the stepping motor '166, the pinion 162 is rotatively moved, causing axial movement of the rack 160. This causes lateral movement of the collar 156 and results in movement of the lower end portion 1514 of the link `162. Movement of the link 152 causes adjustment of the arm 13G` with respect to the pin :134.

The upper end portion of the link 152 is connected to a crank 1165. As shown in FIGURES 1 and 14, the crank 1615 is attached to a shaft 168 which supports a gear 169. The gear 169 is in meshed relation with a pinion 170 of a stepping motor or adjustment motor 172. A stepping motor 172 is carried by a plate 173. Thus, operation of the :stepping motor 172 rotates the crank 165, adjusting the upper position of the link 152. Thus, it is understood that the stepping motors 172 and 166 adjust the length of .stroke of the arm 131) as the arm 130 moves in response to movement of the arm 121i. Thus, the stepping motors 17.2 and 166 adjust the length of reciprocal vertical movement of the main operating shaft 1156.

Thus, it is also understood that as the main motor 419 cau-ses rotation of the cam members 44 and 46, the main operating shaft 166 ris caused to reciprocally move both axially and rotatively.

Attached to the lower portion of the shaft 166 is a winding head `181), which may be similar to that disclosed in my copending applications Serial Number 702,108 and Serial Number 19,692. A cylindrical cover member 181 encompasses a portion of the winding head 180. The winding head 180 is substantially cylindrical and has a plurality of parallel grooves or slots 182, as shown in FIGURE 2. There are the sarne number of slots or grooves 132 as the number of slots in an electrical element such as an element 184 which is wound by the winding head 1186. Each groove 182 has a guide member .186 slidable therein, as shownin FIGURES 1, 2, and 10. The guide member-s 186 engage the teeth between the slots of the element 184 `so that the guide members 186 remain with the element 184 during the Winding operation, as shown in FIGURE 2. The electrical element 184 is retained by holder members 19t) and 192. The holder members 190 and 192 are supported by bracket-s '194 which are carried by one of the leg members 24. Hook members 1'98 are pivotally supported in positions adjacent the ends of the element 184 during the winding thereof, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, and assist in proper forming of the ends of each of the coils formed during the winding process.

A plurality of nozzles 21N) are attached to the main operating shaft 106 and are movable into and out of the slots of the electrical element 184 during the winding process. Ordinarily, the nozzles 200 are arranged in pairs. There may be two, four, eight, or other numbers of nozzles 2011 so that .a plurality of coils are simultaneously formed in the element 1&4 by the winding head 180. Wire members 2112 extend downwardly thro-ugh the upper end of the operating shaft 106 through flexible tubular conduits 204, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 9. The conduits 2114 may be of plastic material and extend through the operating shaft 166 to the nozzles 260. During the winding operation, the nozzles 200 are carried axially through the slots of the electrical element 184 and when the nozzles 200 reach each end of the element 184 there is slight rotary movement of` the shaft 106, rotating the nozzles 200. Thus, each nozzle 200 in forming each coil passes through one slot in one direction of stroke of the shaft 106 and through a different slot in the return direct-ion of stroke of the shaft 106, Thus, the reciprocal rotary and axial movements of the main operating shaft 106 carry the nozzles 200 through the slots of the element y1134 placing wires 202 in the slots of the element 134, forming the wires into coils. During the winding process, each wire 202 moves inwardly through the upper end of the shaft 106 and is drawn downwardly by movement of the nozzles 200. In its downward movement each wire 202 passes through its respective exible conduit 204 which is within the shaft 106. Each wire passes outwardly from its respective nozzle 2G() and is formed into a coil as the nozzles 2110` are moved by the shaft 106.

As shown in `FIGURE 1G, when it is desired to remove the element 134 after winding thereof, the holders 190 and 192'. are lowered. The guide members 186 automatically move away from the element 184 las the guide members are carried by the Winding head 180.

Any suitable Wire cutting `means 268 may be operated by means of a rod 210 to sever the `wire members 2112. The cutter members 203 may also be provided with means to grasp the w-ire members 2112 so that the wires 292 extend from the grasping means during the winding operation, as shown in FIGURE 2.

Thus, it .is understood that the apparatus of this invention provides means by which there is a definite relationship established between the reciprocal axial and rotary movements of the winding head for precise forming of coils in an electrical element. Herein, the apparatus is shown for use in the winding of a stator. However, the apparatus is also adapted for use in the winding of rotors. Such operations are described in said copending applications Serial Number 702,108 and Serial Number 19,692. The apparatus of this invention may also be used for other winding operations. The relationship between and the amount of the reciprocal axial and rotary movements of the winding head 180 are adjustable by the adjustment motors 100, 166, and 172. The winding apparatus as disclosed herein may be automatically operated so that a very minimum amount of manual efort, if any, may be required.

Although the preferred embodiment of the device has been described, u't will be understood that Within the purview of this invention various changes may be made in the form, details, proportion and arrangement of parts, the combination thereof and mo-de of operation, which generally stated consist in a device capable of carrying out the objects set forth, as disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. Winding apparatus comprising support structure, rotary motor means carried by the support structure, a pair of eccentric cam members iixedly attached to the motor means for rotation thereby, a pair of cam followers pivotally carried by the support structure, each of the cam followers being in engagement with one of the cam members for pivotal movement thereby, a first arm member, the first arm member being rigidly attached to one of the cam followers for movement therewith, link-age means pivotally connected to the yfirst arm member and to the support structure so that the linkage means pivotally moves with movement of the rst arm member, a reciprocally movable rotatable shaft member carried by the support structure, the linkage means being pivotally connected to the shaft member for axial movement of the shaft member, a second arm member, the second arm member being rigidly attached to the other of said cam followers for movement therewith, the shaft having a sprocket attached thereto for rotation therewith, Ya chain encompassing the sprocket and in mesh therewith, means connecting the second arm member to the chain for movement of the chain with movement of the second arm member so that the shaft member is rotatively moved with movement of the second arm member, and Wire guide means attached to the shaft member.

2. Apparatus for winding an element of an electrical machine comprising support structure, rotary motor means carried by the support structure, first and second eccentric cam members attached to the rotary motor means for rotation thereby, a pair of annular cam follower -members, there beingone cam follower member adjacent each of the cam members and in engagement therewith, each cam follower member having a portion pivotally attached to the support structure, a pair of arm members, there being la ilrst arm member and a second arm member, each arm member being attached to one of the cam follower members -at a portion thereof substantially opposite the portion thereof which is pivotally attached to the support structure, a linkage assembly pivotally attached to the llrst arm member and to the support structure, an axially movable rotatable shaft member carried by the support structure, the linkage assembly being pivotally lattachedr to the shaft member for axial movement thereof, a sprocket wheel attached to the shaft for rotation therewith, an idler sprocket rotatably carried by the support structure, a chain encompassing the sprocket wheel and the idler sprocket and tin meshed relation therewith, the second Aarm member extending to a position adjacent the chain, a slide support member rigidly carried by the support structure, a connector attached to the second arm Vmember and slidably movable upon the slide support member, a yoke attached to the chain, the yoke having `a portion slidable upon the slide support member on either side of the connector, springv means encompassing the slide support memberand disposed between the connector and said portions 4of the yoke which slide upon the slide support member, an adjustable abutment member engageable by the yoke and limiting the movement thereof, and wire carrier means carried by the shaft member.

3. Oscillatory apparatus comprising a rotatably mounted shaft'adapted to be rotated by `suitable means, 1a sprocket wheel encompassing the shaft and attached thereto for rotation thereof, an idler sprocket spaced from the shaft, a chain in meshed relation with the sprocket wheel and the idler sprocket, ya yoke having spaced-apart portions, spring means intermediate the spaced-apart portions of the yoke, and actuator means intermediate the spacedapart portions of the yoke, the actuator means being reciprooally movable through a given distance, there being a portion of the Spring means between the actuator means and each of said spaced-apart portions lof the yoke, abutment means attached to the yoke for movement therewith, the yoke being reciprocally movable with movement of the actuator means as the actuator means applies forces upon the yoke'vthrough the springs means, and spaced- .apart stop means engageable by the abutment means lim- `iting reciprocal movement of the yoke as the actuator means reciprocally moves said given distance.

4. Winding `apparatus comprising support structure, a rotary drive shaft, a pair of eccentric cam members carried by the drive shaft, a pair of cam follower members pivotally carried 4by the support structure, each ofthe cam follower members being in engagement with one of the v cam lmembers for movement thereby, each cam followermember being provided with `an arm attached thereto at la position substantially opposite the pivotal attachment thereof to the support structure, a yoke slidably carried by the support structure, an elongate flexible member attached to the yoke for movement therewith, a rotatable and axially movable operating rod, connector means connecting the flexible member to the operating rod for rotative movement thereof, spring means connecting the yoke to one of the arms for movement of the yoke with movement of the arm, and means en-gageable by the yoke limiting movement thereof, linkage means pivotally connected to the other of said arms and pivotally -connected to the operating rod for axial movement thereof, and wire carrier means carried by said operating rod.

5. Actuator mechanism comprising a rotary drive shaft yadapted to be connected to suitable motor means for operation thereby, a pair o-f eccentric cam members attached to the drive shaft for rotation therewith, a pair of pivot-al l -Icam follower members, there being a first cam follower member and a second cam follower member, there being one cam follower member in engagement ywith each of the cam members, a link pivotally attachedto the first cam fQlIOWermember, an arm pivotally attached to the link, a rotatable and axially movable shaft, the arm having an elongate slot therein, means extending through the slot `and attached to the rotatable and axially movable shaft slidably and pivotally connecting the rotatable and axially movable shaft to the arm, a cross-link pivotally attached to the arm intermediate the ends thereof, adjustable connection means at each end of the cross-link adjustably positioning each end `of the cross-link, `an lactuator Iarm rigidly attached to `the second cam follower member, a flexible connector member, means -connecting the flexible connector member to the rotatable land ally movable shaft'for rotation thereof, a movable interconnection member attached to the ilexible connector, adjustable abutment means engageable by the interconnection member limiting movement thereof, and resilient means connecting the actuator arm to the interconnection member so that the `actuator arm moves a given distance upon each revolution of the drive shaft while the interconnection member and the :flexible connector move a distance limited by the abutment means so that rotary movement of the vrotatable and axially movable shaft is p limited by the abutment means while the rotatable and axially movable shaft is rotated with movement of the actuator arm.

6. Actuator means comprising a pivotally reciprocally movable arm, the arm being adapted to be connected to means for movement thereof, a rotatable shaft, a ilexible drive member encompassing a portion of the shaft, means connecting the flexible drive member to the shaft for rotation thereof, an interconnection member attached to `the flexible drive member, the interconnection member being reciprocally movable along a substantially straight line, a rotary irregularly shaped abutment member having pairs of opposed surfaces engagea-ble by the interconnection member limiting the reciprocal movement thereof, and resilient means connecting the pivotally reciprocally movable armv to the interconnection member for reciprocal movement of the interconnection member causing rotary reciprocal movement of the shaft.

7. Winding apparatus for an electrical element comprising:

a rotatable and axially movable shaft member, a pair of ilxedly interconnected rotatable cam members, means for connecting the cam members to means for rotation thereof, Y a pair of pivotally movable cam yfollower members, there being a first cam follower member and a second cam follower member, there being one cam y follower member in engagement with each of the `cam members and movable thereby, rotary actuator means connected to the shaft member, connector means connecting the rotary actuator means to the ilrst cam follower member for movement of the rotary actuator means with movement of the rst cam follower member, the first cam lfollower member having la predetermined distance of movement, the connector means including:

allexible member encompassing the shaft member, resiliently operable abutment means connected to the flexible member, and adjustable limit means engageable by the abutment means for limiting movement of the flexible member, the movement of the flexible member thus being adjustably limitable to distances less than the distance the movement of the ilrst cam follower member,v axial movement actuator means connected to the shaft member, y and means connecting the axial movement actuator means to the second cam follower member.

8. Mechanism lfor winding an element of an electrical machine comprising:

rotatable and axially movable carrier means,

rotation means connected to the carrier means,

axial movement means connected to the carrier means,

first rotatable cam means,

means for connecting said first cam means to means for rotation thereof,

connector means yconnecting the rst cam means to the rotation means for operation thereof, the rst cam means having a predetermined distance of movement,

the connector means including:

a flexible member connected to the rotation means,

engagement means attached to the flexible member,

resilient means connecting the engagement means to the cam means,

and abutment means engageable by lthe engagement means for limiting movement of the flexible means to distances less than the distance of movement of the first cam means,

second rotatable cam means,

means for connecting the second cam means to means -for rotation thereof,

the second cam means being connected to the axial movement means for operation thereof,

.and means securing the first and second cam means together for simultaneous operation.

9. Mechanism for precise reciprocal axial and rotary movement of a shaft comprising:

rotary motor means,

a pair of cam members attached to the motormeans for rotation therewith, there being a -rst cam member and a second cam member,

la pair of pivotally mounted `cam followers, there being a first cam follower and a second cam follower, the Ifirst cam follower being in engagement with the rst cam member Ifor reciprocal movement thereby,

linkage means pivotally connecting the first cam follower to said shaft for axial movement thereof,

flexible means encompassing the shaft and operably connected thereto for lrotation thereof, the second cam follower 'being in engagement with the second cam member for reciprocal movement thereby, means connecting the flexible means to the second `cam follower for reciprocal movement thereby, rotatably adjustable abutment means, and engagement means attached to the flexible means,

the engagement means engaging the rotatably adjustable abutment means and limiting movement of the flexible means.

10. Operator apparatus including:

a rotatable shaft adapted to be connected to means for rotation thereof,

a wheel connected to the shaft for rotation thereof,

a flexible member encompassing the wheel and extending therefrom and in engagement therewith,

an engagement member attached to the flexible mem- Iber yand movable therewith,

abutment means having adjust-ably positionable opposed abutment surfaces engageable by the engagement member,

a yoke attached to the engagement member and movable therewith, the yoke having a midportion and a pair of spaced-apart end portions, the midportion of the yoke being movable with respect to the end portions thereof,

resilient means intermediate the midportion and the end portions of the yoke so that said midportion is resiliently movable with respect to the end portions Ithereof,

a reciprocally movable arm connected to the midportion of the yoke for movement thereof, the arm having 'a predetermined distance of reciprocal movement, the abutment means limiting movement of the engagement member and thus limiting movement of the flexible member, the midportion of the yoke thus being permitted yby the resilient means to move farther th-an the end portions of the yoke, the amount of reciprocal rotational movement of the shaft thus being adjustably limited by the abutment means while the arm which moves the shaft has a predetermined fixed amount of reciprocal movement.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. WINDING APPARATUS COMPRISING SUPPORT STRUCTURE, ROTARY MOTOR MEANS CARRIED BY THE SUPPORT STRUCTURE, A PAIR OF ECCENTRIC CAM MEMBERS FIXEDLY ATTACHED TO THE MOTOR MEANS FOR ROTATION THEREBY, A PAIR OF CAM FOLLOWERS PIVOTALLY CARRIED BY THE SUPPORT STRUCTURE, EACH OF THE CAM FOLLOWERS BEING IN ENGAGEMENT WITH ONE OF THE CAM MEMBERS FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT THEREBY, A FIRST ARM MEMBER, THE FIRST ARM MEMBER BEING RIGIDLY ATTACHED TO ONE OF THE CAM FOLLOWERS FOR MOVEMENT THEREWITH, LINKAGE MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE FIRST ARM MEMBER AND TO THE SUPPORT STRUCTURE SO THAT THE LINKAGE MEANS PIVOTALLY MOVES WITH MOVEMENT OF THE FIRST ARM MEMBER, A RECIPROCALLY MOVABLE ROTATABLE SHAFT MEMBER CARRIED BY THE SUPPORT STRUCTURE, THE LINKAGE MEANS BEING PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE SHAFT MEMBER FOR AXIAL MOVEMENT OF THE SHAFT MEMBER, A SECOND ARM MEMBER, THE SECOND ARM MEMBER BEING RIGIDLY ATTACHED TO THE OTHER OF SAID CAM FOLLOWERS FOR MOVEMENT THEREWITH, THE SHAFT HAVING A SPROCKET ATTACHED THERETO FOR ROTATION THEREWITH, A CHAIN ENCOMPASSING THE SPROCKET AND IN MESH THEREWITH, MEANS CONNECTING THE SECOND ARM MEMBER TO THE CHAIN FOR MOVEMENT OF THE CHAIN WITH MOVEMENT OF THE SECOND ARM MEMBER SO THAT THE SHAFT MEMBER IS ROTATIVELY MOVED WITH MOVEMENT OF THE SECOND ARM MEMBER, AND WIRE GUIDE MEANS ATTACHED TO THE SHAFT MEMBER. 